Well they did get a new coach, Mike Sullivan, who did a pretty good job with the Pens. Season starts October 7th with the Pens at your Rangers.

Indeed. Schedule's a little weird, it's about 60% road in the first half, obviously flipped in the second half.

I don't think they're actually as bad as they looked last year. The big key is Zibanejad. If he can find something like 80-85% of his past game, then suddenly Center flips from weakness to strength. I think the Gavrikov signing will give htem maybe the top D pair in the League between him and Fox. They got an absolute haul for Miller (who will fit Carolina's system and suddenly look better but was a disaster here), if Morrow pans out then they might challenge for the division.

Ultimately, they still can't beat Florida.

How about your boys?

[quote poster=VicRattlehead; 53693; 1055211]Indeed. Schedule's a little weird, it's about 60% road in the first half, obviously flipped in the second half.

I don't think they're actually as bad as they looked last year. The big key is Zibanejad. If he can find something like 80-85% of his past game, then suddenly Center flips from weakness to strength. I think the Gavrikov signing will give htem maybe the top D pair in the League between him and Fox. They got an absolute haul for Miller (who will fit Carolina's system and suddenly look better but was a disaster here), if Morrow pans out then they might challenge for the division.

Ultimately, they still can't beat Florida.

How about your boys? [/quot

Pens are in rebuild mode. They still have Crosby,who's been as good as ever even if he's slowed down a tad. Malkin has really dropped off production wise and their defense and goalies can best be described as almost non-existant. But this is what happens when you win cups like they did in 2016 and 2017. Rutherford traded draft picks for veterans and pretty soon you're wondering why the team is so slow. Sullivan did a good job when he first took over, but his system is meant for a team with speed and let's face it the Pens have really slowed down. Ownership is pretty much hands off, these are the same guys that own the Red Sox, they leave the GM Dubas to run the team. Toronto dumped Dubas for a reason, but GM's and coaches get recycled all the time.

You're right about Florida,

Do you think they will trade Crosby at the deadline? Do you think they should? As a fan do you prefer to get a return for him while you can, or would you rather he played out the string and retired a Pen?

As a fan I’d like to see Crosby retire as a Pen, but hockey is a business, like all sports, so they’ll probably end up trading him. Ultimately I think they should let Sid make the call, he’s earned that much.